Duties

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As an ELECTRICAL ENGINEER some of your typical work assignments include:

For GS-13:

• Applying advanced industry knowledge to review filings submitted to the Commission on a wide range of electrical engineering concepts related to assessing, inspecting and approving the Bulk Power System; conducting audits and investigations of the users, owners and/or operators of the Bulk Power System and, contribute to the development of rulemakings, orders and policy statements.
• Conducting comprehensive engineering analysis to assess and enhance the reliability of the Bulk Power System. Responsibilities include evaluating the reliability impacts of Reliability Standards and proposed rate, tariff, and market rule filings; monitoring daily and near-term reliability performance by gathering and analyzing event data to maintain situational awareness; performing in-depth analysis of system disturbances and reliability trends following bulk power system incidents, notifications, requests, or complaints and; studying electric utility systems' proposals to identify reliability benefits and costs related to transmission access and simultaneous import capability.
• Performing electrical engineering work often as a team member and occasionally as a team leader, working on multiple projects concurrently, and in a different capacity, as the need dictates.
• Effectively communicating policy issues, Commission directives on Reliability Standards during the standards development process and recommend policy options in matters such as pending cases or rulemakings under Commission consideration, involving bulk power system reliability.

For GS-14:

• Applying expert industry knowledge to review filings submitted to the Commission on a wide range of electrical engineering concepts related to assessing, inspecting and improving the Bulk Power System; conduct highly complex studies and, audits and investigations of the users, owners and/or operators of the Bulk Power System and, contribute to the development of rulemakings, orders and policy statements.
• Conducting advanced engineering analysis to assess and enhance the reliability of the Bulk Power System. Responsibilities include analyzing bulk power incidents such as abnormal frequency excursions; conducting extensive analysis of Reliability Standards and recommending required modifications to senior agency officials and serving as an expert on highly complex issues relating to rate, tariff and market rule filings or Commission initiatives.
• Performing electrical engineering work often as a team leader, working on multiple projects concurrently to analyze proposed Reliability Standards or tariff revisions with reliability implications, draft Commission orders, conduct investigations on system disturbances and, as part of a Commission, NERC and/or industry team to assess compliance or reliability performance of users, owners and/or operators of the Bulk Power System.
• Effectively communicating major policy issues and innovative policy options to agency senior officials, in matters such as pending cases or rulemakings under Commission consideration involving bulk power system reliability.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• A background investigation is required.
• This is a bargaining unit position (AFGE Local 421).
• Generally, male applicants must be registered with the Selective Service.
• This position has an education requirement; you must submit transcripts.
• Relocation expenses will not be paid.
• If hired, you may be required to divest certain energy-related securities.
• Financial Disclosure is required for the GS-14 level.

Qualifications

You must meet the qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of an ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, GS-0850, please visit: Electrical Engineer, 0850 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In addition to the education required for this position, you must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience planning, operating, or analyzing the Bulk Power System to identify reliability or engineering issues, and experience drafting, reviewing, or evaluating analyses of electric reliability issues.

In addition to the education required for this position, you must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience analyzing complex Bulk Power System trends involving electric transmission or generation, and leading electric transmission studies and reports.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including any volunteer experience.

Please do not cut and paste the "Duties" section, specialized experience statement, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

Education

This position has an education requirement and therefore, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Washington, DC.

When promotion potential is shown, future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.

If selected for this position, you will be required to:

• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
• Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment.
• Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.